Devices, Methods, and Systems for Managing Route-Related Information

ABSTRACT

A method can include, for a predetermined route, automatically processing a first set of machine instructions to create a visual travel guide for the predetermined route, the visual travel guide comprising a second set of machine instructions adapted to cause an information device to render: an identification of a destination of the predetermined route; a plurality of videos, each video corresponding to a road intersection located approximately on the predetermined route, each video adapted to substantially reproduce a view of a driver of an automobile approaching the road intersection; a plurality of textual descriptions associated with the plurality of videos; at least one of an identification of an origin of the predetermined route and an identification of an approach to the destination; and an advertisement associated with at least a portion of the predetermined route.

This application is a Continuation of Non-Provisional U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/540,067 (attorney docket 1037-009), filed 29Sep. 2006, which incorporates by reference in its entirety, and claimsthe benefit of, Provisional U.S. Patent Application 60/722,135 (attorneydocket 1037-007), filed 30 Sep. 2005, and is a Continuation-in-Part of,claims priority to, and incorporates by reference in its entirety,Non-Provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/390,838 (attorneydocket 1037-003), filed 18 Mar. 2003, which is a Continuation-In-Partof, and claims priority to, International application PCT/US01/27735,filed 27 Sep. 2001, which is a Continuation of Non-Provisional U.S.application Ser. No. 09/671,271, filed 28 Sep. 2000, now U.S. Pat. No.6,351,710, issued 26 Feb. 2002.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A wide variety of potential practical and useful embodiments will bemore readily understood through the following detailed description ofcertain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanyingexemplary drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart detailing an exemplary baseline point-to-pointembodiment of a visual addressing method;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary pictograph produced via an exemplary embodimentof the method of FIG. 1 showing photographs of five way points directingan end user from a particular starting point to his/her desireddestination;

FIG. 3 is a partial flow chart showing an exemplary embodiment of thepoint-to-point visual addressing method of FIG. 1 whereby a number ofdifferent starting points are accommodated;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart detailing an exemplary advanced regionalembodiment of a visual addressing method;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary “city booklet” pictograph produced via anexemplary embodiment of the method of FIG. 4, showing a large number ofindividual way point photographs assembled into an addressable array;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart outlining how to use an exemplary embodiment ofthe regional embodiment visual addressing method of FIG. 4 using anexemplary embodiment of the addressable array of photographs of FIG. 5to generate various types of visual addressing outputs;

FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram showing an exemplary apparatus bywhich certain exemplary embodiments of the point-to-point methods ofFIGS. 1-3 can be implemented;

FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram showing an exemplary apparatus bywhich certain exemplary embodiments of the regional method of FIGS. 4-6can be implemented;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 900;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method forvideo routing;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary output produced via an exemplary embodiment ofany of the methods of FIG. 1, FIG. 10, and/or FIG. 21;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are an exemplary output produced via an exemplaryembodiment of any of the methods of FIG. 1, FIG. 10, and/or FIG. 21;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary output produced via an exemplary embodiment ofany of the methods of FIG. 1, FIG. 10, and/or FIG. 21;

FIG. 14 is an exemplary output produced via an exemplary embodiment ofany of the methods of FIG. 1, FIG. 10, and/or FIG. 21;

FIG. 15 is an exemplary output produced via an exemplary embodiment ofany of the methods of FIG. 1, FIG. 10, and/or FIG. 21;

FIG. 16 is an exemplary output produced via an exemplary embodiment ofany of the methods of FIG. 1, FIG. 10, and/or FIG. 21;

FIG. 17 is an exemplary output produced via an exemplary embodiment ofany of the methods of FIG. 1, FIG. 10, and/or FIG. 21;

FIGS. 18A and 18B are an exemplary output produced via an exemplaryembodiment of any of the methods of FIG. 1, FIG. 10, and/or FIG. 21;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 19000;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an informationdevice 20000; and

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 21000.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In certain exemplary embodiments of a baseline method for providingvisual guidance to a traveler, motorist, and/or end user, a series ofway point photographs can be compiled into a static pictograph such thatthe physical arrangement of the individual photographs can provide thedesired guidance. The arrangement can provide way points in naturaldriving order for ease of use. The pictographs can be hard copiesprovided as a single sheet, a fold-up brochure, and/or in booklet formregenerated from downloaded digital data. The photographs can beproduced by physically traversing the routes between predeterminedstarting points and desired destinations, capturing scenes of selectedway points using any of a variety of scene-capturing devices, whileverifying and/or proving the validity, viability, and/or practicality ofthe route. These photographs then can be annotated, processed, stored,and/or subsequently retrieved as needed for delivery to an end user. Inan advanced regional method for providing guidance between a pluralityof starting points and a plurality of destinations—all within theboundaries of the region—a large number of way point photographs can betaken and compiled into a “city booklet.” Thereafter, responsive tospecific end-user requests detailing one or more starting points and/orone or more destinations, routes can be provided, and/or selected byjoining paths of way points based on their locations, to produce apictograph and/or a route listing. In either the point-to-point orregional approach, the end user can be guided by visually correlatingthe photographs of actual way points with superimposed directionalarrows and descriptive text with the road actually being traveled asseen through the traveler's windshield and/or eyes.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a simplified flow chartoutlining a baseline visual addressing method according to an exemplaryembodiment. The baseline method 10 details the steps to implement apoint-to-point embodiment used for guiding an end user from a singlepredetermined starting point to a single desired destination point. Asused herein, the phrase “starting point” can include a specificgeographical location (e.g., 123 East Main Street, the White House,etc.), a general location (e.g., south of Charlottesville, inside theI-495 Capitol Beltway, etc.), an approach (e.g., from Harrisonburg, I-81South, US 29 north of Charlottesville, the inner loop of the I-495Capitol Beltway, etc.), and/or a direction of travel (e.g. southward,northeasterly, etc.). In certain embodiments, starting points can bedetermined by a route developer. An end user and/or traveler can selecta starting point from a set of starting points predetermined by theroute developer. Block 12 depicts the largely manual step of obtainingand entering the predetermined starting point, the desired destination,calling for a preferred and/or alternate route between them, and furtherdesignating the particular type of output desired (e.g., hard copy,downloadable file, screen display, etc.). In block 14 the inputs can belocated on a road map of suitable scale, and a preferred and/oralternate route between the two can be determined in block 16 foreventual presentation to an end user and/or traveler. A preferred routetypically can be determined by a priori knowledge of local roadconditions, and other factors such as road construction, traffic flow,temporary hazards, and the like. Identification and/or selection ofalternate routes can also be accomplished at block 16 for possiblefuture use. Depending on the particular implementation employed, thesemethod steps may be accomplished manually, via automated means, or morecommonly using a combination of manual and automated means.

At block 18, the largely manual step of determining the best method forgenerating photographs of the way points can be accomplished. This caninclude selection of one or more photograph-capturing devices inaccordance with the nature of the roads, traffic conditions, time ofyear, and the like. As used herein, way points may include startingpoints, destinations, main and/or secondary intersections, en routelandmarks, turn locations and other end-user useful locations which callfor a photograph. Standard photographic cameras, camcorders, digitalcameras, plus variants of these and other devices are contemplated foruse, with the 35 mm camera generally considered as the baselinephotograph-capturing means. At block 20, the actual photograph-takingsteps can be accomplished by physically traversing the preferred (and/oralternate) route(s) and capturing the images associated with the waypoint locations previously determined. On completion of thephotographing, way point images can be recorded and/or annotated inblock 22. These annotations may include a range of information types tobe used for end-user purposes, for cataloging and for administrativerequirements. Textual and/or graphic annotations can be added which willappear along with a particular photograph to provide standardizedwritten directions and/or visual direction symbols to the end user.Cataloging annotations may include assigning way point physical locationaddressing, internal accession address codes, and/or date and time ofcapturing the photographs. Administrative annotations may includeinformation on what type of image-capturing device produced thephotograph as well as copyright notification, and the like. The resultsof this combining—images, directional information, text, addressing,etc.—can be converted in block 24 into one or more computer-readablefiles and/or stored for subsequent retrieval in a main computer databaseat block 26. The output of block 28 can be conditioned by a controlinput from block 12 to select the desired type of output format to begenerated by blocks 30 and 32. Block 30 can generate a pictographbooklet 34 which may then be delivered to an end user by mail, overnightcourier, and/or other type of physical delivery means 36. Block 32 cangenerate essentially the same content as in a pictograph, but in digitalform, such as for producing a CD-ROM 38 for physical delivery, and/orfor outputting and/or delivering to an end user via various networks 40,including the Internet, a virtual private network, a local area network,and/or a wide area network, etc.

A typical point-to-point pictograph is shown in FIG. 2 as fivephotographs arranged in a static sequence to guide an end user along apreferred route. A pictograph 50 can be provided as a hard copy sheet,brochure, folder and/or digital file for generating the equivalentthereof, providing visual addressing to, illustratively, the destinationof National Chimneys State Park in Virginia, as indicated in a legendarea 52, and includes annotated photographs numbered [1] through [5]. Inphotograph [1] we see the actual road scene that the driver/end userwould encounter upon exiting interstate highway US 81 south at exit 231,his/her starting point. A superimposed arrow 54 indicates the path to betaken along the road shown, and the annotations in area 56 provideadditional textual detail and guidance for the driver. Thereafter,photographs [2], [3] and [4] provide photographs of three additional waypoints in proper driving sequence or order, including directional arrows58, 62 and 66 along with their corresponding textual annotation areas60, 64 and 68. In the final photograph [5], the entrance to the desireddestination is seen with a right turn directional arrow 70 denoting thepath to the entrance, as described in the annotation area 72. As taughtherein, arranging the way point photographs in driving order means thatthe photographs are physically arrayed, and/or may be numbered so as tobe arrayed, in the same order as a driver properly following the routewould naturally encounter the way point locations that the photographsrepresent.

Thus there has been described the baseline point-to-point visualaddressing method, which can present en route travel information in ahighly intuitive manner such that it can be immediately useable by adriver or end user without the need to learn or manipulate complex orconfusing systems or devices. In a nutshell, a number of actualphotographs can be produced and arranged in a natural and/or drivingorder sequence in hard copy form to guide a driver along a preferredroute from a single predetermined starting point to a desireddestination. Ideally, each way point photograph is taken and presentedfrom a driver's eye view; at a designated distance and exposure so thatthe driver and/or end user can get familiar with the distance perceptionportrayed. Any pictograph, photograph, and/or any representation of aphotograph can also be annotated, augmented, and/or associated with, forexample, text (e.g., having standardized wordings), direction arrows,icons, dots, highlighting, and/or other symbols for focusing thetraveler on a certain part and/or aspect of the route. For example, ared dot can appear “on” an interstate exit sign in a photo of anexit-sign-filled interchange to indicate the exit sign corresponding tothe correct route. A digital version of the pictograph may also beproduced and stored in a hard medium and/or outputted via a digitalnetwork for generating a hard copy form of the pictograph.

As used herein, the meaning of the term pictograph is accordinglyexpanded from its narrow dictionary definition to encompass acompilation of visual images in and/or producible in tangible form(i.e., hard copy), arranged in a particular sequence and/or manner so asto visually assist an end user in accomplishing a desired task. Theimages may include annotations such as graphics, text, and/oraddressing. In certain exemplary embodiments, the task is that of aidingin the driving of a vehicle from a starting point to a desireddestination unerringly, without the driver and/or other occupant havingpreviously traveled the route. Note that the point-to-point method isnot necessarily limited to just short trips and/or highly-localizedareas. It is contemplated that a dozen or two carefully selected waypoints may be adequate to guide a motorist from the western end of theGeorge Washington Bridge in New York City, down the New Jersey Turnpiketo a destination in Baltimore just off I-695, the Baltimore Beltway.

The above baseline embodiment is readily amenable to being of evengreater usefulness in expanded embodiments. Consider first the commonlyencountered need to guide a traveler to a given destination where thetraveler may be approaching from any one of several differentdirections, which gives rise to the need for a multiple starting pointcapability. FIG. 3 shows a modification to the method of FIG. 1 toaccomplish this. Whereas the pictograph of FIG. 2 shows a singlestarting point, single destination brochure, it might be more generallyuseful to provide a plurality of pictographs, each of which is devotedto a different starting point. These may include approaching the singledestination from the north, south, east or west, as well as approachingfrom more than one interstate highway, and/or from other well-knownroadways and/or intersections.

In the partial flow chart of FIG. 3, block 12A includes the additionalcapability of accepting multiple starting points and an index number Ndenoting how many of them are inputted. The N starting points are storedin block 12B for sequential use under the control of a counting loop12C. On retrieval of the first (n=1) of N starting points by selectionblock 12D, the method proceeds substantially as described in connectionwith the FIG. 1 embodiment to produce a pictograph in the desired outputtype for the particular starting point selected. On completion ofprocessing the first starting point in block 14A and thereafter, block14A then increments counter 14E by one count causing the blocks 12E and12F to select the next (n=2) starting point to be fully processed toproduce another distinct pictograph. When the full N starting pointshave been processed, block 12F cuts off the incrementing counter 14E andthe system becomes quiescent waiting for a new set of data to be loadedat block 12A. The N distinct pictographs thus produced may be providedas stand-alone hard copies, and/or they may be combined into one or morebooklets and/or brochures. The digital output type, if selected, issimilarly handled. Note that the blocks functionally below themodification of FIG. 3, namely blocks 16 and 28 and thereafter, operateidentically as previously described.

An advanced regional embodiment of a visual addressing method employingthe techniques taught herein is detailed in the flow chart of FIG. 4.Whereas the previous point-to-point embodiments are concerned withguiding an end user from a particular one or more starting point(s) to asingle destination, the regional visual addressing method allows for amuch more generalized approach. Briefly, the regional method is carriedout by compiling a large number of way points in a given region so as tofacilitate guiding an end user from any one of many, or virtually any,starting point(s) within the region to any one of many, or virtuallyany, destination(s) within that region. The region may be as large as amajor city, may encompass a college campus and/or hospital complex,and/or may be as small as a local shopping mall. All that is required isthe inclusion of a sufficient number of way point photographs to permitthe eventual assembly of a pictograph having enough detail to enable anend user to get from a selected starting point to a desired destination.

This regional embodiment is described first in terms of how to produce acollection of photographs to be assembled into a “city booklet” eitherin hard copy and/or in digital form as shown in FIG. 4, and second howan end user can use the city booklet. With concurrent reference now toFIGS. 4, 5, and 6 (and occasional brief reference to FIGS. 1-3), notethat FIG. 4 describes a method 80 of implementing the regionalembodiment, FIG. 5 as an illustrative city booklet 200 produced by themethod of FIG. 4, and that FIG. 6 describes a method 250 of using theregional city booklet.

In blocks 82 and 86 of FIG. 4, the boundaries of the region to becovered are determined and entered. As before, many of the steps may beaccomplished by manual means, by automated means, or more commonly, byusing combinations of the two. The boundaries are confirmed usingpublicly available ground data of block 84 and reference map data ofblock 88. In blocks 90 and 92, the largely manual steps of conducting amap survey of the coverage region, determining the main roads andintersections, and so forth, are accomplished. Based on the results ofthe processes of blocks 90 and 92, a number of way points needed todefine a number of routes through the city are identified. Thereafter,having this suitable number and locations of way points in hand at block94, the best method of verifying the route and generating photographs ateach way point is accomplished, as previously described. Blocks 94, 96,and 98 then process the photographs, as previously described. (Note thatblock 98 includes virtually the same steps as blocks 20, 22, 24, and 26of FIG. 1.) An output section 100 functions identically to that ofblocks 28 through 40 of FIG. 1, the primary difference being the controlof the output pictograph and/or its digital equivalent and the providingof both hard copy pictographs via block 130 and its digital equivalentvia block 132. Note the absence of a specific block which selects outputtype. The purpose of providing both output types is given herein belowin the method of use portion of the description.

FIG. 5 shows a typical city booklet 200 as an array of 24 photographsarranged in addressable order. An illustrative photograph 202 shows asingle way point which may be called up with reference to its internaladdress AA1, as shown in an address area 204. As used herein, “citybooklet” describes a compilation of a plurality of photographs where thephotographs are arranged in an addressable array (in hard copy and/ordigital form) for subsequent use in creating a point-to-point pictographand/or for use with a route listing. In many ways a city booklet is muchthe same as a pictograph, but it lacks the physical sequence or naturaldriving order needed to guide an end user, and it includes a number ofinapplicable photographs for any one preferred route. Also, the termcity booklet is used in a generic sense to denote regional visualaddressing and may include an entire city, only a downtown district, ormay be as circumscribed as a large shopping mall, a university and/ormedical campus.

The city booklet 200 is shown, illustratively, as a single sheetcontaining 24 photographs. However, larger regions covered by certainexemplary embodiments of the present method and system may containsignificantly more photographs displayed on a number of pages, which maybe bound into a booklet, or may be left free standing. It is estimatedthat a relatively small city such as Leesburg, Va. might require as manyas several hundred (200-700) photographs to provide reasonablyfine-grained guidance to a first-time traveler to get to and from itskey locations—such as it's county courthouse, municipal officebuildings, shopping malls and outlets, equestrian center, and the like.All of these can be reached via Leesburg's two main access highways ofRoutes 7 and 15, as approached from any of the four compass points.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart detailing a preferred manner of using anaddressable array of photographs such as those in the city booklet 200.A workstation-based method 250 has as its core a high-end PC 252 intowhich has been loaded a CD-ROM 254 containing an appropriate citybooklet in digital form, such as that produced in block 138 of FIG. 4.With real time programming in operation in PC 252, an operator, (orpossibly an end user) can insert a predetermined starting point and adesired destination, and/or can designate what combination of outputclasses and/or styles is desired via a block 256. Three possible outputsare: a point-to-point pictograph similar to that of FIG. 2; a regionalcity booklet as shown in FIG. 5; and/or a route listing yet to bedescribed. In block 258 a preferred route (and possibly an alternate)can be determined by connecting a path derived by linking together acollection of way points based on their physical location addresseswhich were inserted during the annotation steps. Alternatively, apre-determined route and/or its pictograph can be previously associatedwith a given starting point and destination, and/or stored for retrievalwhen the given starting point and/or destination are selected by a user.The actual selection of way points is accomplished in block 260. Becausethe way point photographs already exist as digital files storage 254(e.g., CD-ROM, DVD, hard disk, server, database, Flash RAM, EPROM, tape,etc.), it is not necessary to generate them again but only to transferthem to hard copy output section 264 and/or its digital equivalent underthe control of class selection block 262. In response to a designationof pictograph and/or listing signal via line 266 the user may firstselect a desired output class. If the pictograph output class isselected, the stored photographs regenerated in block 268 then can betransferred to produce either a point-to-point pictograph as determinedby the inserted starting point and destination, similar to that of FIG.2—or alternately to regenerate a hard copy of the city booklet of FIG.5. Which of output styles is produced can be determined by thedesignation input via line 270 which can route the regeneratedphotographs via block 272 to blocks 274 and 276 which can generate oneof the output styles, shown as FIG. 2 and/or FIG. 5.

If the listing output class is selected, block 278 generates a listingof way point addresses produced in block 260 such that the sequence ofthe way points constitutes the preferred route in proper driving order.This output listing can be downloaded, rendered, and/or printed out assheet 280 and may then be used in combination with a preexisting copy ofa corresponding city booklet, and/or with a newly-regenerated copy ofthe city booklet via blocks 272 and 276. Thereafter, an end user armedwith one of two styles of pictographs and/or an address listing can, asbefore, be unerringly guided to his/her desired destination.

Referring now to FIG. 7, illustrative apparatus via which thepoint-to-point embodiments of FIGS. 1-3 may be implemented is shown insimplified block diagram form. A point-to-point system 300 can includeone or more input scene-capturing devices, including a 35 mm camera 302,a digital camera 304 and a video camera 306. As previously detailed, theactual type of input device employed can be determined by actualscene-capturing conditions encountered—traffic, weather, time of day,etc. along the route and/or at the way point being considered. The 35 mmcamera is considered as the baseline input device, and photographs cangenerally be taken by a windshield-mounted camera using 100, 200 and/or400 speed film. As the rolls of film are exposed, they can be processedat, for example, a home office facility, to verify quality, way pointlocation, database entry, and/or logging, then uploaded into, forexample, a central computer, in any picture and/or graphics file format,such as JPEG, GIF, PDF, etc.

Digital camera 304, capable of using an internal memory and/or a disk(internal and/or external) and capable of being equipped withzoom/special light receiving capabilities, may also be used. Incongested travel areas where additional vehicle safety is required,video camera 306 can be indicated for use. Still frame pictures can bemade at predetermined road sites, landmarks, and the like whiletraveling. Snappy software can provide the desired conversion tocompatible output types.

The bulk of the photograph processing, annotation, conversion, etc. canbe accomplished on a central computer 308. In the block 310 the 35 mmphotographs are converted into JPEG files, digital camera photographsare uploaded, and/or transposed video tapes are edited and/or convertedto still-frame photographs. In block 312, photograph annotations andother control inputs can be added via a keyboard 322, and all data andphotographs can be assembled into a main database 314, which can resideon a web server. In a preferred basic embodiment, the database 314 maybe implemented using a minimum Microsoft Windows operating systemrunning on a computer comprising an Intel 486, Pentium, or Pentium Proand/or higher processor; 16 MB of RAM; 8-bit (256-color) or greaterdisplay adapter; and a 2x CR-ROM drive or faster). Alternatively, thedatabase 314 can be implemented using any of the following operatingsystems: Windows 3.1x with DOS 5.0 or later, Windows 95, Windows NT(version 3.5.1 or greater), Windows XP, Windows Vista, etc.

Production of pictographs can be accomplished using a personal computercustomer request workstation 318 which can communicate with the maindatabase 314 via a bidirectional bus 320 and/or network, such as theInternet, a local area network, a wide area network, a virtual privatenetwork, a wireless network, etc. The workstation 318 can include I/Odevices such as a keyboard 322, monitor or display 324, speaker,microphone, and/or an output interface 326. Responsive to specializedprogramming running in the workstation 318, and/or operator commandsentered via keyboard 322, any of three output means may be enabled. Aprinter 328 can generate the pictograph sheet, booklet, and/or brochure(per 138 of FIG. 4) when called for. A local storage device, such as ahard disk, RAM, flash RAM, EPROM, tape drive, DVD-RAM, and/or CD-RWdrive 330 can store the digital equivalent of a pictograph (per 38 ofFIG. 1) and/or a city booklet (per 138 of FIG. 4) as required. A networkand/or network-connected server, such as an internet server 332, e.g., afile server and/or web page server, can provide the various outputs indigital form (per 140 of FIG. 4 and/or per 40 of FIG. 1).

FIG. 8 shows an illustrative apparatus, in simplified block diagramform, via which the regional embodiment described in FIG. 6 may be used.A regional use system 350 can be based on the capabilities of aninformation device 252, such as a personal computer, laptop, and/orPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA), graphical display empowered cellphone, etc., serving as the core of a customer fulfillment workstation.The fulfillment workstation 352 can include I/O devices such as akeyboard 354 and/or other input device (e.g., microphone with voicerecognition software, touch screen, trackpad, scroll wheel, navigationbuttons, retinal tracker, etc.), a speaker, a monitor and/or display356, and/or a printer, such as a laser printer, an ink jet printer,and/or a photographic quality color printer 358. Upon loading a CD-ROM360 containing a regional city booklet, such as item 138 of FIG. 4,and/or downloading such a booklet, and/or accessing a web sitecontaining such a booklet, and entering one or more starting points,destinations, and/or output classes and/or styles as requested by acustomer and/or end user, the fulfillment workstation 352 can producethe desired outputs. The operating system resident in the workstation352 can function as previously described in connection with output block100 of FIG. 4, with the exception that workstation 352 does notnecessarily need to replicate the Internet and/or network outputtingcapability. Thus, the customer fulfillment workstation 352 can render(i.e., make perceptible) and/or generate a hard copy of a pictograph,city booklet, and/or route listing (per 276 of FIG. 6) for guiding anend user from the inputted starting point(s) to the inputteddestination(s).

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an exemplary alternative embodiment of amethod 900. At activity 910, a preferred route is obtained, the routeextending from a first starting point, such as a first approach, to afirst destination. At activity 920, before, during, and/or afterphysically verifying the route, a sequential set of way points along theroute is selected. At activity 930, a visual image of each of theselected way points is obtained, as described supra. At activity 940,the set of visual images of the selected way points is arranged in astatic viewable sequential order, such as a sequentially-orderedpictograph and/or city booklet, sequence matching what a travelerfollowing the route would perceive. At activity 950, in response to auser's selection of the first destination, a set of predeterminedstarting points can be rendered to the user. At activity 960, inresponse to a user's selection of a first predetermined starting pointfrom the set of predetermined starting points, the set of visual imagescan be provided to the user, such as via a downloaded digital file, arendered digital file, a displayed web page, and/or a hard copy, etc.,and formatted as a pictograph, city booklet, and/or route listing, etc.If provided digitally, the user can generate a hard copy of the set ofvisual images as desired.

In certain exemplary embodiments, any visual image and/or the set ofvisual images can be annotated, associated, and/or augmented with one ormore textual descriptions associated with at least a portion of theroute (e.g. a highway of the route, a way point along the route, etc.),the textual descriptions comprising driving instructions, mileagemeasurements, suggestions for sites of interest (e.g., touristattractions, overlooks, rest areas, shopping, restaurants, etc.), driverwarnings, etc. Such textual descriptions can be provided to a travelerand/or user at the option of the service provider and/or the travelerand/or user. If provided to the traveler and/or user, such textualdescriptions can be stored, output, rendered, and/or printed at thediscretion and/or selection of the traveler and/or user.

In certain exemplary embodiments, any visual image and/or the set ofvisual images can comprise, and/or can be annotated, associated,augmented, and/or replaced with, one or more videographic and/or videoimages and/or descriptions associated with at least a portion of theroute, each video description comprising one or more videos, which canbe created in much the same way as the photographic visual images,except with the aid of an analog and/or digital video recording device(e.g., analog camcorder, digital camera with video capability, digitalcamcorder, etc.). Such video descriptions can be provided to a travelerand/or user at the option of the service provider and/or the travelerand/or user. If provided to the traveler and/or user, such videodescriptions can be stored, output, rendered, played, and/or printed atthe discretion and/or selection of the traveler and/or user. The contentand/or playback (e.g., starting point, ending point, displayed frames,progression, speed, refresh rate, fidelity, etc.) of such a videodescription can be predetermined, associated with a current location,route, way point, and/or travel speed, and/or controlled by a personviewing the video description.

In certain exemplary embodiments, any visual image and/or the set ofvisual images can be annotated, associated, augmented, and/or replacedwith one or more audio descriptions associated with at least a portionof the route, each audio description comprising one or more audiorecordings, clips, and/or samples, which can be created in much the sameway as the photographic visual images, except with the aid of an analogand/or digital audio recording device (e.g., tape recorder, digitalaudio recorder, digital camera with analog annotation and/or recordingcapability, analog or digital camcorder, etc.). Such audio descriptionscan be provided to a traveler and/or user at the option of the serviceprovider and/or the traveler and/or user. If provided to the travelerand/or user, such audio descriptions can be stored, output, rendered,and/or played at the discretion and/or selection of the traveler and/oruser. The content and/or playback (e.g., starting point, ending point,rendered clips, progression, speed, volume, fidelity, etc.) of such anaudio description can be predetermined, associated with a currentlocation. route, way point, and/or travel speed, and/or controlled by aperson listening to the audio description.

In certain exemplary embodiments, any visual image and/or the set ofvisual images can be annotated, associated, augmented, and/or replacedwith one or more computer-generated objects associated with at least aportion of the route, each object comprising one or more graphics,images, controls, and/or animations, etc. Such computer-generatedobjects can be provided to a traveler and/or user at the option of theservice provider and/or the traveler and/or user. If provided to thetraveler and/or user, such computer-generated objects can be stored,output, rendered, printed, and/or played at the discretion and/orselection of the traveler and/or user.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a pictograph, city booklet, and/orroute listing can include one or more promotional items at any locationin the pictograph, city booklet, and/or route listing. A promotionalitem can be provided depending on the starting point, destination,route, way points, etc. The promotional item can be modifieddynamically, so that, for example, any hard copy output, screendisplays, and/or digital files provided after the modification to thepromotional item can contain the modified promotional item.

Moreover, the promotion item can provide a link to, for example, asecond pictograph showing a route to a location of the promoter and backto the original pictograph, route, etc. As a further example, if a firstpictograph leads a traveler on a route from an airport to a hotel, apromotional item included and/or associated with the first pictograph,including possibly an icon, can link the traveler to a second pictographthat leads the traveler to a restaurant and then back to the route ofthe first pictograph, and/or even directly to the hotel from therestaurant.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a pictograph, city booklet, and/orroute listing can be requested and/or provided from a kiosk. Thus, atraveler at an airport, car rental counter, bus station, subway station,port, mall, business, street corner, etc. who does not currentlypersonally possess a network-connectable and/or network-connectedinformation device (e.g., a personal computer, personal digitalassistant, web-enabled cell phone, etc.) and/or a printer can stillobtain a pictograph, city booklet, and/or route listing.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a pictograph, city booklet, and/orroute listing can augment and/or enhance an existing navigation system,such as, for example, OnStar, Mapquest, etc., and/or can be used toverify a route provided by such an existing navigation system.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a pictograph, city booklet, and/orroute listing can be provided via alternative information devices, suchas wrist watch display, a television, a portable DVD player, a hologramprojector, an automobile visor display, a windshield projection system,a portable navigation device, etc. For example, a pictograph, citybooklet, and/or route listing can be holographically, photographically,and/or videographically projected such that it appears to be displayedapproximately on (i.e., on, near, slightly behind, and/or slightly infront of) at least a portion of an automobile windshield, in front ofthe traveler, in the actual direction, and/or in the direction of theroute.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a pictograph, city booklet, and/orroute listing can be provided in a format that is designed for use witha particular type of information device. For example, a user can requesta pictograph that is formatted for use with a Treo 300 handheldcommunicator, available from Handspring Inc. of Mountain View, Calif. Ata minimum, such a pictograph can be compatible with the operating systemof the information device. Moreover, such a pictograph can includevisual images that have sufficient, but not excessive resolution for theselected information device, are color-adjusted to optimize the displaycapabilities of the information device, fit on the screen of theinformation device without the need for scrolling, conserve power of theinformation device, and/or transfer rapidly to the information device,etc.

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method comprising, for apredetermined route, automatically processing a first set of machineinstructions to create a visual travel guide (e.g., video guide, photoguide, pictograph, city booklet, and/or route listing, etc.) for thepredetermined route, the visual travel guide comprising a second set ofmachine instructions adapted to cause an information device to render:an identification of a destination of the predetermined route; aplurality of videos, each video corresponding to a road intersectionlocated approximately on the predetermined route, each video adapted tosubstantially reproduce a view of a driver of an automobile approachingthe road intersection; a plurality of textual descriptions associatedwith the plurality of videos; at least one of an identification of anorigin of the predetermined route and an identification of an approachto the destination; and an advertisement associated with at least aportion of the predetermined route.

In certain exemplary embodiments of a baseline method for providingvisual guidance to a traveler, motorist, and/or end user, a series ofway point videos can be compiled into, and/or utilized in, individualroutes that provide a means of travel guidance to a specified and/orgeneral destination. Route videos can be available via a network such asthe Internet, thus allowing an end user to view video routes and/orportions of video files stored in a data base as a travel guide todirect travelers along one or more routes to one or more predetermineddestinations.

A video can be produced by a human who physically traverses a routebetween a predetermined starting point and desired destination,capturing video scenes of selected way points using any of a variety ofscene-capturing devices, while verifying and/or proving the validity,viability, and/or practicality of the route. This video can beannotated, processed, stored, and/or subsequently retrieved as neededfor delivery to an end user. See FIG. 10.

In an advanced regional method for providing visual guidance between aplurality of starting points and a plurality of destinations—all withinthe boundaries of the region—a large number of videos can be taken andcompiled into a city CD/DVD or other. Thereafter, responsive to specificend-user requests detailing one or more starting points and/or one ormore destinations, routes can be provided, and/or selected by joiningpaths of way points based on their locations, to produce a listing ofvideo routes. In either the point-to-point and/or regional approach, theend user can be guided by visually viewing the videos of actual roadintersections (or other) with superimposed directional arrows anddescriptive text with the road actually being traveled as seen throughthe traveler's windshield and/or eyes.

Such video travel guides can be useful for guiding travelers, such astourists, visitors, customers, clients, potential buyers, guests,delivery personnel (e.g., delivering, documents, packages, pizza,flowers, vending machine contents, inventory, and/or supplies, etc.),those following established routes (e.g., bus drivers, truckers, mailcarriers, newspaper carriers, etc.), those attending real estate and/orgarden tours, those touring and/or navigating a building's and/orproperty's external and/or internal features (e.g., potential homebuyers, new students in a large school building and/or campus, workersin an industrial facility, etc.), hikers, boaters, aircraft pilots,racers, police, emergency personnel, and military operations.

In certain exemplary embodiments of a baseline method for providingvisual guidance to a traveler, motorist, or end user, video directionsmay be designated to have more than one directional start point fordirecting an end user to his/her desired destination.

Prior to creating an on-line video travel guide, one can determine adesired destination, approach direction, path, turns, and/or origin foreach particular route. An end user might only desire a single route froma specific origin to a specific destination and/or might desire multipleroutes to a specific destination.

Via use of a digital video camera (and/or other video capturing device),via scanning traditional photos, and/or via download and/or transfer ofphotos/videos from a commercial and/or public domain database and/orother repository of photos/videos, a route developer can obtainphotos/videos of relevant turns, intersections, and/or landmarks, etc.,along the particular route and/or the output could be rendered in ananimated video and/or stream format. The provider can offer a databaseof videos, photos, audios, maps, and/or other relevant information, suchas factual information, annotations, and/or advertisements, etc.,associated with a given video, destination, approach direction, path,turns, origin, route, and/or vicinity thereof, etc. The database can bemade available for a subscriber to, via license, lease, and/or purchase,etc., provide content to the host and/or others and/or obtain content.

Via a human physically traversing each desired route, such as viaautomobile, study of physical and/or on-line maps, and/or research ofcommercial and/or public domain databases, such as a geographicalinformation system (GIS) database, the user, provider, and/or subscribercan obtain factual information associated with that route, such asdistances between intersections, compass headings, road names and/ornumbers, descriptions of landmarks, number of intersections betweendesired turns, and/or number of traffic lights between desired turns,etc. Conversely, the user, provider, and/or subscriber can generate,publish, transfer, enter into a database and/or GIS, and/or makeavailable to others such factual information. For example, a providerand/or subscriber can provide a count of traffic lights betweenintersections for use by others, such as other subscribers, MapQuest,OnStar, etc.

To create an on-line visual travel guide and/or video guide, one caninteract, such as via a web browser, with the provider software to:

-   -   determine, specify, and/or indicate the desired destination,        approach direction, path, turns, and/or origin for the        particular route;    -   upload, transfer, enter, tag, seek, obtain, and/or select the        desired content for the particular route;    -   convert standard video formatting to SWF, FLV, web streaming        and/or any other appropriate format and/or resize and/or        compress files (for fast usage) prior to uploading and/or after        uploading;    -   crop, trim, and/or touch-up videos as desired;    -   add still frame photographs to video format and/or place another        video within a route video to enhance directions, add        advertisement, etc.;    -   specify a sequence and/or arrangement for the videos;    -   specify an arrangement for any factual information and/or other        content;    -   enter, specify, and/or transfer annotations, such as text,        graphics, audio recordings, video recordings, animations, and/or        controls, such as arrows, highlighting, compass headings, notes,        icons, sketches, comments, and/or links to information about        landmarks and/or relevant excursions, etc., to be associated        with and/or positioned over, within, and/or near the        photos/videos and/or factual information; and/or    -   manage, access, render, view, label, tag, edit, and/or modify        the content, structure, and/or arrangement, etc., of the video        guide as desired;    -   specify who may access, copy, render, stream, view, print, edit,        and/or modify the video guide and/or any portion thereof;    -   provide, revise, and/or manage content that is: associated with        a particular video guide provided by the subscriber; not        associated by that subscriber with a particular video guide;        associated with a video guide of another; and/or is available        for use in assembling a video guide; etc.

A server can run software that allows travelers to link to, subscribeto, locate, view, print, stream, extract, receive, and/or downloadinformation, content, and/or meta-data in any desired file format (e.g.,pdf, html, xml, doc, and/or jpg, .swf, .flv, etc.), one or more videotravel guides, routes, photos, factual information, annotations,advertisements, etc., created, provided, published, by a subscriberand/or others. For example, the server can provide a hyperlink to a webpage and/or blog comprising a video travel guide, route, photo, and/orcontent, etc. Upon activating the hyperlink, a traveler can be presentedwith a rendering of a video travel guide, either via being re-directedto and viewing the web page and/or via downloading the video travelguide. If desired, the traveler can download reader software for adownloaded video travel guide, so that the traveler can access and/orutilize the video travel guide even when access to the server isunavailable.

For example, a mobile traveler can select a destination, and anembodiment of the software can:

-   -   determine the traveler's current location;    -   determine the traveler's current direction of travel;    -   determine an appropriate route and/or corresponding video travel        guide to direct the traveler to the selected destination from        the traveler's current and/or anticipated location;    -   obtain the determined video travel guide and/or route, and/or    -   render the determined video travel guide and/or route to the        mobile traveler, such as via an in-vehicle display and/or via a        mobile information device.

Rather than selecting a single and/or specific destination, a travelercan request sub-destinations and/or destinations generally and/orparametrically. For example, a mobile traveler can request a display ofany 4 star or better rated Chinese take-out restaurants within 5 minutesof any location along a current route. In response, the software cangenerate, on an ad hoc basis, a video travel guide to any selected oneof such restaurants. As another example, a mobile traveler can request avideo travel guide to the gasoline station located within 10 minutes ofthe traveler's current location, located no more than 2 minutes from thetraveler's route, and that offers the lowest price for regular gas.

Rather than being pre-assembled by a particular subscriber, the host cancreate, assemble, and/or modify a video guide on-the-fly usinginformation provided by a traveler and/or known about the travelerand/or one or more aspects of a potential route for the traveler. Forexample, based on a known current location, direction of travel, anddestination and/or type of destination for a traveler, the host candetermine a route to the destination and/or a route to each destinationof the type of destination. By tapping its database of content, the hostcan assemble and/or retrieve a video guide for each route. As anotherexample, if the host knows of an actual problem and/or potential problemassociated with a particular route, such as travel delays due to speedlimits, traffic lights, construction, accident, heavy traffic, etc.,poor road conditions, lack of rest stops and/or other desiredconveniences, etc., the host can communicate that problem and/ordetermine a different route, and assemble and/or retrieve a video guidefor that different route. As another example, if the host determinesthat a video guide and/or route that was previously provided to atraveler has developed such a problem and/or potential problem, the hostcan notify the traveler, assemble an alternative route and/or videoguide, and/or offer and/or provide that alternative route and/or videoguide to the traveler, etc. As another example, a subscriber can provideupdated content, such as a report of a problem and/or potential problem,that can be used to update and/or modify the host's database(s) and/orto create, assemble, update, and/or modify one or more routes and/orvideo guides.

A video travel guide can be rendered in sequential portions and/or inits sequential entirety. For example, a traveler can request that onlythose portions of a video travel guide that are relevant to the mobiletraveler's current location be rendered, the rendered portions changingin sequence as the traveler's location changes. By way of furtherexample, as the mobile traveler approaches a turn, the video travelguide can present only a photograph/video of the turn that correspondsto the approximate distance the traveler currently is from the turn,thereby simulating and/or reproducing the traveler's current and/or verysoon upcoming perspective of the turn. As the mobile traveler getscloser to the turn, a different photo/video can be displayed, thisphoto/video approximately corresponding to the mobile traveler's newposition and/or distance from the turn. If appropriate and/or requested,the software can provide visual and/or audio warnings and/or tips to thetraveler, such as “slow down!”, “turn approaching in 200 feet”, and/or“oops, missed it, turn around”, etc.

In certain exemplary embodiments, one can specify a destination and/ororigin for a route by typing one or more addresses and/or by clicking onand/or touching a rendered map. One can specify a path and/or turnsalong the route by typing, clicking, and/or via dragging a pointerand/or finger across the map. Thus, one can essentially “trace” and/orotherwise specify the desired route on the rendered map to indicate thedesired destination, approach direction, path, turns, and/or origin forthe particular route. The map can be linked to GPS information, suchthat relatively precise location information, comprising longitude,latitude, and/or azimuth, etc., information can be gathered and/orassociated with the desired destination, approach direction, path,turns, and/or origin for the particular route. As one traces and/orotherwise specifies a desired route, thumbnail photographs associatedwith the route's origin, approach direction, path, turns, and/ordestination can be interactively rendered to the user and/or subscriber,such as in a sequential order (video and/or other) for a traveler.

Alternatively, given at least one's desired destination, the softwarecan propose origins, approaches, paths, turns, and/or accompanyingphotos, factual information, and/or annotations, etc. Thus, for example,given a destination address and/or an origin address, the software canautomatically generate a video travel guide, route, photographs withinvideo, etc.

As mentioned earlier, the server can host software that allows asubscriber to upload content, such as photos, videos, advertisement,factual information, annotations, tags (e.g., classifying labels,keywords, markups, embedded codes, markup language elements, HTMLelements, SGML elements, XML elements, RSS tags, bookmarks (e.g.,flicker and/or del.icio.us bookmarks and/or tags), etc.), links, to beembedded within any video presentation/route, etc., associated with agiven video guide, destination, approach direction, path, turn, origin,route, and/or vicinity thereof, etc., for others to obtain, lease,license, and/or purchase, etc. The host can access, use, receive, store,relationally associate, link to, tag, create, assemble, provide, feed,stream, buy, sell, lease, license in, license out, and/or managecontent. The host can provide and/or specify standard and/or customizedterms, such as terms of use, license fees, royalties, and/or othercompensation, payment methods, ownership, assignment, and/or transfer ofrights, copyright permissions, restrictions, limitations, warranties,disclaimers, indemnifications, dispute resolution, controlling law,termination, and/or severability, etc., for subscribers and/or others toprovide, store, relationally associate, link to, tag, create, assemble,stream, manage, access, and/or use content. Thus, the host can serve asa content exchange, repository, assembly tool, auctioneer, seller,and/or provider, etc.

For example, license fees and/or royalties can be based, for example, onthe number of video guide showings in which a specific video is used,the period of time over which particular content is used, the number oftimes certain content is accessed for a given route, advertisementsrendered, click-throughs for advertisements, etc. Thus, for example,annotated videos of a busy intersection, which happens to be popularwith travelers and/or subscribers who are creating routes, might receivesubstantial licensing revenues due to a high volume of access of thosephotographs by travelers who access such routes. A royalty, on the otherhand, might have to be paid for each insertion in a guide, access by auser of a guide, etc. Ownership rights and/or copyrights to the providedcontent can be retained by the subscriber and/or transferred to thehost. As another example, an advertiser might pay a larger advertisingfee for an ad that accompanies one or more photographs of a highlypopular intersection. Fees can be paid by subscribers, travelers, and/oradvertisers, etc. Content can be stored, indexed, and/or referenced fromthe host's database(s). In certain exemplary embodiments, rather thanuploading content to be stored on the host's memory device, a subscribercan store the content on the subscriber's memory device and/or someother memory device, and simply provide a link to that content. Such alink can be stored in the host's database(s).

Certain exemplary embodiments of providing visual guidance can provide atechnique for a provider to create/a subscriber to access/a traveler touse, via a network such as the Internet, server-based sequencingsoftware that can allow a provider and/or subscriber to upload visuals(photos, videos, etc.) to the server via a web site, arrange the visualsinto a desired sequence, add content to overlay and/or accompany thevisuals, such that the visuals and any portion of the additional contentcan be rendered on-line and/or viewed (via monitor) and/or as a hardcopyin sequential order as a visual guide to direct a traveler along one ormore routes to one or more predetermined destinations.

Such visual travel guides can be useful for guiding travelers, such astourists, visitors, customers, clients, potential buyers, guests,delivery personnel (e.g., delivering, documents, packages, pizza,flowers, vending machine contents, inventory, and/or supplies, etc.),those following established routes (e.g., bus drivers, truckers, mailcarriers, newspaper carriers, etc.), those attending real estate and/orgarden tours, those touring and/or navigating a building's and/orproperty's external and/or internal features (e.g., potential homebuyers, new students in a large school building and/or campus, workersin an industrial facility, etc.), hikers, boaters, aircraft pilots,racers, police, emergency personnel, meter readers, etc., to any desireddestination. For example, a real estate agent and/or a homeowner cancreate, revise, provide, and/or publish a visual travel guide of theinterior and exterior of the home as well as routes to the home fromvarious approaches and/or locations.

Prior to creating and/or using an on-line visual travel guide, one candetermine a desired destination, approach direction, path, turns, and/ororigin for each particular route, as visual travel guides may bedesignated to have more than one directional start point for directing atraveler to a destination. The provider/subscriber/traveler might onlydesire a single route from a specific origin to a specific destinationand/or the Provider/subscriber/traveler might desire multiple routes toa specific destination.

Via use of a camera and/or camcorder, via scanning traditional photos,and/or via download and/or transfer of photos from a commercial and/orpublic domain database and/or other repository of photos, the providerand/or subscriber can obtain photos of relevant turns, intersections,and/or landmarks, etc., along the particular route. Via use of a cameraand/or camcorder, via copying videotape, and/or via download and/ortransfer of videos from a commercial and/or public domain databaseand/or other repository of videos, the provider and/or a subscriber canobtain videos of relevant turns, intersections, and/or landmarks, etc.,along the particular route. The server and/or host site can offer adatabase of such photos, videos, and/or other content along withrelevant information, such as factual information, annotations, and/oradvertisements, etc., associated with a given photo, video, destination,approach direction, path, turns, origin, route, and/or vicinity thereof,etc. The provider database can be made available for a subscriber to,via license, lease, and/or purchase, etc., provide content to theprovider and/or others and/or obtain content for the subscriber and/ortraveler.

Via physically traversing the travel routes between predeterminedstarting points and desired destinations, study of physical and/oron-line maps, and/or research of commercial and/or public domaindatabases, such as a geographical information system (GIS) database, theprovider and/or a subscriber can obtain factual information associatedwith that route, such as distances between intersections, compassheadings, road names and/or numbers, descriptions of landmarks, numberof intersections between desired turns, and/or number of traffic lightsbetween desired turns, etc. Conversely, the provider and/or a subscribercan generate, publish, transfer, enter into a database and/or GIS,and/or make available to others such factual information. For example,the provider and/or a subscriber can provide a count of traffic lightsbetween intersections for use by others, such as the provider and/orother subscribers, MapQuest, OnStar, etc.

The photographs, videos, and/or other scene-capturing objects can beobtained when and/or while a human physically traverses the routesbetween predetermined starting points and desired destinations,capturing scenes of selected way points using any of a variety ofscene-capturing devices, while verifying and/or proving the validity,viability, and/or practicality of the route. These photographs, videos,and/or other scene-capturing objects then can be edited, enhanced,annotated, processed, stored, and/or subsequently retrieved as neededfor delivery to an end user.

In an advanced regional method for providing guidance between aplurality of starting points and a plurality of destinations—all withinthe boundaries of the region—a large number of photographs, videos,other can be compiled into a city CD/DVD and/or other assembly.Thereafter, responsive to specific end-user requests detailing one ormore starting points and/or one or more destinations, routes can beprovided, and/or selected by joining paths of way points based on theirlocations, to produce a photo, video, and/or other route listing. In thepoint-to-point and/or regional approach, the end user can be guided byvisually viewing the photos, videos, and/or other of actual roadintersections (or other) with superimposed directional arrows anddescriptive text with the road actually being traveled as seen throughthe traveler's windshield and/or eyes.

To create an on-line visual travel guide, the provider and/or subscribercan interact, such as via a web browser, with the host software to:

-   -   determine, specify, and/or indicate the desired destination,        approach direction, path, turns, and/or origin for the        particular route;    -   upload, transfer, enter, tag, seek, obtain, and/or select the        desired content for the particular route;    -   convert photos to a standard size (e.g., 340 pixels by 270        pixels, etc.), resolution (e.g., 72, 150, 300, etc., dots per        inch), and/or format (e.g., JPEG, TIFF, bitmap, etc.), prior to        uploading and/or after uploading;    -   convert standard video formatting to SWF, FLV, web streaming,        and/or other format and then resize and/or compress files (for        fast usage) prior to uploading and/or after uploading;    -   edit, crop, trim, and/or touch-up videos and/or photos as        desired;    -   insert content such as text into videos and/or photos;    -   specify a sequence and/or arrangement for the videos and/or        photos;    -   specify an arrangement for any factual information and/or other        content;    -   enter, specify, and/or transfer annotations, such as text,        graphics, audio recordings, video recordings, animations, and/or        hyperlinks, such as arrows, highlighting, compass headings,        notes, icons, sketches, comments, and/or links to information        about landmarks and/or relevant excursions, etc., to be        associated with and/or positioned over, within, and/or near the        videos, photos, other and/or factual information; and/or    -   manage, access, render, view, label, tag, edit, and/or modify        the content, structure, and/or arrangement, etc., of the visual        travel guide as desired;    -   specify who may access, render, stream, view, print, edit,        and/or modify the visual travel guide and/or any portion        thereof;    -   provide, revise, and/or manage content that is: associated with        a particular visual travel guide provided by the provider and/or        a subscriber; not associated by that provider and/or a        subscriber with a particular visual travel guide; associated        with a visual travel guide of another; and/or is available for        use in assembling a visual travel guide; etc.;    -   etc.

The server can run software that allows travelers to link to, subscribeto, locate, view, print, stream, extract, receive, and/or downloadinformation, content, and/or meta-data in any desired file format (e.g.,pdf, html, xml, doc, jpg, mpeg, way, QuickTime, swf, and/or fly, etc.),one or more visual travel guides, routes, photos, videos, factualinformation, annotations, advertisements, etc., created, provided,published, by the provider and/or a subscriber and/or others. Forexample, the server can provide a hyperlink to a web page and/or blogcomprising a visual travel guide, route, photo, video, and/or content,etc. Upon activating the hyperlink, a traveler can be presented with arendering of a visual travel guide, either via being re-directed to andviewing the web page and/or via downloading the visual travel guide. Ifdesired, the traveler can download reader software for a downloadedvisual travel guide, so that the traveler can access and/or utilize thevisual travel guide even when access to the server is unavailable

For example, a mobile traveler can select a destination, and anembodiment of the software can:

-   -   determine the traveler's current location;    -   determine the traveler's current direction of travel;    -   determine an appropriate route and/or corresponding visual        travel guide to direct the traveler to the selected destination        from the traveler's current and/or anticipated location;    -   obtain the determined visual travel guide and/or route, and/or    -   render the determined visual travel guide and/or route to the        mobile traveler, such as via an in-vehicle display and/or via a        mobile information device.

Rather than selecting a single and/or specific destination, a travelercan request sub-destinations and/or destinations generally and/orparametrically. For example, a mobile traveler can request a display ofany 4 star or better rated Chinese take-out restaurants within 5 minutesof any location along a current route. In response, the software cangenerate, on an ad hoc basis, a visual travel guide to any selected oneof such restaurants. As another example, a mobile traveler can request avisual travel guide to the gasoline station located within 10 minutes ofthe traveler's current location, located no more than 2 minutes from thetraveler's route, and that offers the lowest price for regular gas

Rather than being pre-assembled by a particular provider and/orsubscriber, the provider and/or server can assemble and/or modify avisual travel guide on-the-fly using information provided by a travelerand/or known about the traveler and/or one or more aspects of apotential and/or traditional route for the traveler. For example, basedon a known current location, direction of travel, and destination and/ortype of destination for a traveler, the host can determine a route tothe destination and/or a route to each destination of the type ofdestination. By tapping its database of content, the host can assembleand/or retrieve a visual travel guide for each route. As anotherexample, if the host knows of an actual problem and/or potential problemassociated with a particular route, such as travel delays due to speedlimits, traffic lights, construction, accident, heavy traffic, etc.,poor road conditions, lack of rest stops and/or other desiredconveniences, etc., the host can determine a different route, andassemble and/or retrieve a visual travel guide for that different route.As another example, if the host determines that a visual travel guideand/or route that was previously provided to a traveler has developed aproblem and/or potential problem, the host can notify the traveler,assemble an alternative route and/or visual travel guide, and/or offerand/or provide that alternative route and/or visual travel guide to thetraveler, etc. As another example, a provider and/or a subscriber canprovide updated content, such as a report of a problem and/or potentialproblem, that can be used to update and/or modify the host's database(s)and/or to create, assemble, update, and/or modify one or more routesand/or visual travel guides.

A visual travel guide can be rendered in sequential portions and/or inits sequential entirety. For example, a traveler can request that onlythose portions of a visual travel guide that are relevant to the mobiletraveler's current location be rendered, the rendered portions changingin sequence as the traveler's location changes. By way of furtherexample, as the mobile traveler approaches a turn, utilizing the knownlocation of the traveler, such as via a GPS receiver, the visual travelguide can present only a video and/or a photograph of the turn thatcorresponds to the approximate distance the traveler currently is fromthe turn. As the mobile traveler gets closer to the turn, a differentvideo and/or photo can be displayed, this video and/or photoapproximately corresponding to the mobile traveler's new position and/ordistance from the turn. If appropriate and/or requested, the softwarecan provide visual and/or audio warnings and/or tips to the traveler,such as “slow down!”, “turn approaching in 200 feet”, and/or “oops, youmissed it, turn around”, etc.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a subscriber and/or a traveler canspecify a destination and/or origin for a route by typing one or moreaddresses and/or by clicking on and/or touching a rendered map. Thesubscriber and/or traveler can specify a path and/or turns along theroute by typing, clicking, and/or via dragging a pointer and/or fingeracross the map. Thus, the subscriber and/or traveler can essentially“trace” and/or otherwise specify the desired route on the rendered mapto indicate the desired destination, approach direction, path, turns,and/or origin for the particular route. The map can be linked to GPSinformation, such that relatively precise location information,comprising longitude, latitude, and/or azimuth, etc., information can begathered and/or associated with the desired destination, approachdirection, path, turns, and/or origin for the particular route. As asubscriber and/or traveler traces and/or otherwise specifies a desiredroute, thumbnail videos, photographs, and/or other associated with theroute's origin, approach direction, path, turns, and/or destination canbe interactively rendered to the subscriber and/or traveler, such as ina sequential order for a traveler.

Alternatively, given at least a subscriber's and/or traveler's desireddestination, the software can propose origins, approaches, paths, turns,and/or accompanying videos and photos, factual information, and/orannotations, etc. Thus, for example, given a destination address and/oran origin address, the software can automatically generate a visualtravel guide, route, video clip, photographs, etc.

As mentioned earlier, the server can host software that allows asubscriber to upload content, such as videos, photos, factualinformation, annotations, advertisements, tags (e.g., classifyinglabels, keywords, markups, embedded codes, markup language elements,HTML elements, SGML elements, XML elements, RSS tags, bookmarks (e.g.,flicker and/or del.icio.us bookmarks and/or tags), etc.), links, etc.,associated with a given visual travel guide, destination, approachdirection, path, turn, origin, route, and/or vicinity thereof, etc., forothers to obtain, lease, license, and/or purchase, etc. The provider canaccess, use, receive, store, relationally associate, link to, tag,create, assemble, provide, feed, stream, buy, sell, lease, license in,license out, and/or manage content. The provider can provide and/orspecify standard and/or customized terms, such as terms of use, licensefees, royalties, and/or other compensation, payment methods, ownership,assignment, and/or transfer of rights, copyright permissions,restrictions, limitations, warranties, disclaimers, indemnifications,dispute resolution, controlling law, termination, and/or severability,etc., for subscribers and/or others to provide, store, relationallyassociate, link to, tag, create, assemble, stream, manage, access,and/or use content. Thus, the provider can serve as a content exchange,repository, assembly tool, and/or provider, etc.

For example, license fees and/or royalties can be based, for example, onthe number of visual travel guides in which a specific photo and/orvideo is used, the period of time over which particular content is used,the number of times certain content is accessed for a given route,advertisements rendered, click-throughs for advertisements, etc. Thus,for example, a subscriber who provides annotated photographs of a busyintersection, which happens to be popular with subscribers who arecreating routes, might receive substantial licensing revenues due to ahigh volume of access of those photographs/videos by travelers whoaccess such routes. A royalty, on the other hand, might have to be paidfor each insertion in a guide, access by a traveler of a guide, etc.Ownership rights and/or copyrights to the provided content can beretained by the subscriber and/or transferred to the host. As anotherexample, an advertiser might pay a larger advertising fee for an ad thataccompanies one or more photographs/videos of a highly popularintersection. Fees can be paid by subscribers, travelers, and/oradvertisers, etc. Content can be stored, indexed, and/or referenced fromthe host's database(s). In certain exemplary embodiments, rather thanuploading content to be stored on the host's memory device, a subscribercan store the content on the subscriber's memory device and/or someother memory device, and simply provide a link to that content. Such alink can be stored in the provider's database(s).

In certain exemplary embodiments, a provider/subscriber/traveler canaccess mapping features and/or functions, such as those provided by aGeographical Information System (GIS), in conjunction with overheadtransparencies (available for print out from the Internet). Thesubscriber and/or traveler can come to a site and indicate that anoverlay for a map is desired, the grid scale of the map, and thedestination. The subscriber and/or traveler can print out and place thetransparency over his/her map.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a subscriber and/or traveler canrequest the display of a map showing a route from the origin to thedestination, the map including a visual travel guide display of turns.Generally, any map can include icons, arrows, directions, routes,addresses, business names, GPS readings, etc. See FIGS. 11 and 12A-12B.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a subscriber and/or traveler can beprovided with a path and/or route to a destination that is highlightedfrom start to finish showing coded frames (photos of turns) in sequenceas 1, 2, 3 . . . and/or 1^(st), 2^(nd), 3^(rd) either with picturesalone and/or to include GPS readings, etc. as needed. See FIGS. 13-15.

In certain exemplary embodiments, an end user (via internet and/or otherdevice) and/or a traveler (via vehicle device) can download/view agraphical map of the area designated for travel and/or being traveledand interact with that map by using his mouse/and/or other to click anddrag and/or highlight a specified route to be traversed. The softwarefollows the direction of travel indicated by the mouse or/other,annotates turns, correlates information and then simultaneously showsthe map and all photos and/or videos and information associated with theroute selection (see FIG. 16) and/or the user can select to have theroute available for download in sequential PDF format hardcopy as aphoto guide and/or in formatted video-stream copy, either way displaysvisuals of each turn associated with the route. See FIGS. 18A-18B.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a traveler can enter a destinationname and the system can show the selected name as an icon on a map. Forexample, when a traveler types in a desired destination like McDonaldsand the traveler has selected Charlottesville, Va., every McDonaldswithin the Charlottesville area will highlight (e.g., blinking asterisk,a framed circle and/or box, etc.) and show a call-out box that displaysthe address (actual address and/or GPS reading and/or both) for thatlocation. If more than one destination is highlighted, the traveler canclick on the address desired (by criteria: e.g., closest to traveler'spoint of entry into Charlottesville and/or within a geographical zonerating (e.g., from center of mass of Charlottesville out by 2 milesradius, 5 mile radius, etc.), and/or by rating/classification (4 star,etc.)) and then can click on a side of the map, that side indicating thedirection of travel from which the traveler is traveling. Example: atraveler could click on the North side of the map if they were comingfrom the North. The software could determine the best route to thedesired geographical location and plot a visual travel guide map fromthe most logical outer-most entry into Charlottesville. The traveler canbe provided with, for example, two choices: 1-select route for printingfrom standard host site data base and/or 2-remain on the GIS map andhave the videos and/or photographs rendered in sequential order on thesides of the map and/or directly next to a prescribed turn withclarification codes added (e.g., 1^(st) turn, 2^(nd) turn, etc.) and/orany other information needed to explain the route, e.g., junction ofroad names, and direction labels like left/right turn, etc. See FIG. 17.

In certain exemplary embodiments, comparing input from a GPS receiverand/or transceiver with a predetermined route, a traveler can beprovided with an “approaching turn” alarm and/or notification. Thealarm/notification can be provided via hardware such as a PDA,vehicle-integral screen, cell phone, navigation system, GPS device,iPod, etc. The alarm/notification can be a visual, audible, tactile,and/or haptic, etc. Video display may be activated when GPS lockspresent location to preview upcoming turns and road conditions to adesired destination.

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a Visual Travel Guide MapDisplay (Photo Map Display and/or Enhanced GIS Map Display), which canallow simultaneous viewing of a GIS graphical map (printed and/or madeavailable for interactive viewing via an Internet and/or other networkconnection) showing photographs of each turn and/or videos of routes toguide travelers. The ability to preview a graphical map and photos/videoat the same time is a more advanced means of providing directions on howto find a desired destination because it can allow the traveler tocorrelate photos/videos associated with a static map, i.e. turns, roads,destinations, landmarks, etc. This is where a GPS reading can bedisplayed as a photograph and/or video while viewing a graphic map atthe same time.

Route Planning Phase

In certain exemplary embodiments, a provider and/or a subscriber cangather information concerning a desired route, e.g.:

-   -   destination, e.g., 123 East Main; Museum of Frontier Culture;        Staunton; etc. origin; e.g., 456 West Main; Exit 245 off I-81        North/South; Westbound on I-64; Monticello; Charlottesville;        etc. a route to first destination (A) as above, then    -   sequential turns for the most advantageous and/or fastest path;    -   approach direction to desired destination and/or turn, e.g.,        from North, South, West-Southwest, etc., and/or while traveling        a predetermined road in a particular direction, e.g., Northbound        US 29, Southbound I-81, Outer Loop of I-495, etc.

Provider/Subscriber Action Phase

In certain exemplary embodiments, a host/subscriber can video and/orphotograph route turns, video and/or photograph landmarks, and/or otherdata information concerning the route. Note: Internet host can providesubscriber with a city (or other) data base of intersection videosand/or photos for their selection. Route turns can be sequentiallydisplayed from predetermined origin to destination.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a provider and/or a subscriber cangather route information; e.g., address of location, road names, turnroad names, mileage, reference landmarks, MLS number of home, etc.

Tour Routing

In certain exemplary embodiments, for an Open House Route Tour, theprovider, a host subscriber and/or a subscriber can:

-   -   build a route to first destination (A) as above, then    -   build a route to destination (B) referencing destination (A) as        the next origin.    -   determine an approach direction to next home from destination A        and builds next route accordingly in sequential order.

Each subsequent home can become the origin for the next part of thetour. When completed, the traveler can traverse from Destination A to Bto C consecutively by accessing one file containing all elementspertaining to the entire tour. Transitions from each origin can beaddressed with text frame notification instructions.

Software Interaction

In certain exemplary embodiments, the provider and/or subscriber caninteract with the web site as follows:

Web Site Web Site Subscriber Actions Software Actions Access host Serve,transfer, and/or render host site home page web site: and requestsubscriber to register as a new subscriber by entering name, address,phone number, email, and method of payment (credit card, bank card,etc). Provide authori- Receive authorization to seek credit verificationvia zation and on-line verification service such as Paynet, informationVeriSign, and/or other credit authority. sufficient to verify credit ofsubscriber. Request and obtain verification of credit through on- linecredit authority. Activate subscriber and assign activation code tosubscriber. Notify subscriber of credit verification and send activationcode to the subscriber via subscriber email address. Enter Verify codeand request subscriber to enter unique activation code. Subscriber Nameand Password. Acknowledge new subscriber name and password and recordinformation into host site data base. Provide Subscriber Work Page forvisual travel guide creation web page and request information aboutsubscriber. Enter Subscriber Record subscriber information into database. Information as requested Request information concerning newlocation and/or tour to be visually routed. Provide inform- Recordinformation on the web Internet data base. ation as requested Assign aSubscriber information link to the information data by recording thesubscriber as a direct link to the location, tour, and route. Potentialembodiment for building the route, tour, and/or visual travel guideDisplay Subscriber Work Page with location, tour, and/or route icondisplayed in the 1^(st) frame. Direct the subscriber to enter the 2ndFrame. Click on enter Display menu with three insert options: 2^(nd)Frame 1.) Graphics Frame 2.) Text Frame 3.) Photograph Frame (e.g.,photo with annotation) 4.) Video Frame 1. If subscriber Display browsermenu that requires the subscriber selects to upload a JPEG graphics file(with and/or without Graphics Frame text) in a specified 340 × 227 pixeland 72 dpi format Upload subscriber's Automatically number the 2nd Frameand store data JPEG graphic to be used as an advertisement, as a coupon,and/ or as an enhance- ment for a route and/or tour. - OR - 2. Ifsubscriber Display a drop-down text box that allows the selects TextFrame subscriber to type text information for that frame Enter textAutomatically number the 2nd Frame and store text information to dataenhance a route and/or a tour. Direct subscriber to enter the 3^(rd)Frame - OR - 3. If subscriber Display a menu-driven drop-down photographinsert selects box with text information options Photograph Frame Uploadphotographs, Automatically number the 2nd Frame and save textinformation, photograph and text data annotations, etc. - OR - 3. Ifsubscriber Display a menu-driven drop-down video insert box selects awith text information options video Frame Upload videos, textAutomatically number the 2nd Frame and save information, video and textdata annotations, etc. Direct subscriber to enter the 3^(rd) FrameConsecutive frames can be completed as above till all elements of theroute and/or tour are completed Choose a frame Receive and storeinformation data for each type for consecutive Insert Frame from thesubscriber till all each consecutive frames (according to thesubscriber) are completed Insert frame Request preview Show sequencedphotographic display of all frames of entire route and/or tour. Activateroute Create a PDF file for specified route location and/or and/or tourtour route, store data and make file available for viewing, downloadingand printing from a traveler's printer. Potential SubscriberCorrections/Additions once route and/or tour has been activated Entersweb/ Acknowledge subscriber Traveler Name and provider site PasswordOpens Subscriber Work Page Select route file Display requested routeand/or tour on Subscriber and/or tour file Work Page from storedsubscriber data list Review route and/ Automatically make changes and/orinsert additions or tour and make and store new information assubscriber enters corrections information and/or insert additions whereneeded. Instruct subscriber to reactivate route and/or tour whencorrections and/or additions are made. Activate corrected Create a newPDF file of route, tour, and/or route and/or tour photographic guideupon re-activation

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 19000,which can comprise any number of user information devices 19100, 19200,19300, via which content, such as photos, videos, audios, graphics,images, etc., and/or commands and/or instructions, etc., can beuploaded, transferred, provided, requested, and/or received, via network19400, to and/or from any number of servers 19500, 19600, 19700, and/or19800, any of which can be coupled to a respective database 19540,19640, 19740, and/or 19840, such as via a respective database manager,19520, 19620, 19720, and/or 19820. For example, visual content, such asphotos and/or videos, such as those adapted to substantially reproduce aview of driver of an automobile approaching a road intersection of,along, and/or on a predetermined route, can be captured via one or moreinformation recording devices 19150, such as a recording device attachedto the automobile (even if indirectly attached to the automobile byvirtue of being held by an occupant of the automobile), and transferredto user information device 19100, where the information containedtherein can be digitized, sampled, stored, edited, revised, enhanced,encoded, encrypted, and/or otherwise processed. From information device19100, the original and/or processed information can be transferred tocontent server 19500. Commands for creating a visual travel guide usingthat content, other content, and/or any content can be entered via anyuser interface of any user information device. From those commands,machine instructions for creating one or more visual travel guides canbe generated on, transmitted via an encoding signal from and/or to,and/or implemented on, any user information device and/or any server,such as via guide creation program 19760 running on server 19700. Thecreated visual travel guide can include the desired content (e.g.,photographic, videographic, audio, textual, and/or graphical (e.g.,maps, sketches, animations, etc.) representations, descriptions,simulations, annotations, and/or identifications of one or more origins,intersections, turns, waypoints, landmarks, excursions, approaches,roads, directions, and/or destinations, etc., and/or metadata, tags,factual information, terms, and/or promotional items potentiallyassociated therewith, etc.), user interface elements and/or controls(e.g., buttons, menus, links, dialogs, and/or check boxes, etc.), and/ormachine instructions for accessing, distributing, tracking, streaming,storing, extracting, searching, arranging, structuring, formatting,rendering, printing, modifying, tagging, subscribing to, accounting for,billing for, managing, and/or otherwise processing and/or utilizing anyof the foregoing. Upon a request, such as from user information device19300, server software, such as server software 19780, can transmit asignal encoding the visual travel guide and/or any portion thereof from,for example, server 19700, to user information device 19300 where thevisual travel guide and/or any portion thereof can be rendered accordingto the machine instructions for rendering.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an informationdevice 20000, which in certain operative embodiments can comprise, forexample, any user information device 19100, 19200, 19300, and/or anyserver 19500, 19600, 19700, 19800, etc., of FIG. 19. Information device20000 can comprise any of numerous components, such as for example, oneor more network interfaces 20100, one or more processors 20200, one ormore memories 20300 containing instructions 20400, one or moreinput/output (I/O) devices 20500, and/or one or more user interfaces20600 coupled to I/O device 20500, etc.

In certain exemplary embodiments, via one or more user interfaces 20600,such as a graphical user interface, a user can view a rendering ofinformation, such as content, commands, and/or a visual travel guide,related to researching, designing, modeling, creating, developing,building, manufacturing, operating, maintaining, storing, marketing,selling, delivering, selecting, specifying, requesting, ordering,receiving, returning, rating, and/or recommending any of the products,services, methods, and/or information described herein.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 21000. Atactivity 21100, content, commands, and/or creation instructions can bereceived. At activity 21200, machine instructions for rendering a visualtravel guide, content thereof, and/or controls therefore, can becreated. At activity 21300, a visual travel guide can be created, whichcan include the machine instructions of activity 21200 for rendering thecontent and/or controls of that visual travel guide. At activity 21400,a request can be received requesting the provision of a visual travelguide. At activity 21500, a visual travel guide, content thereof,controls therefore, and/or machine instructions for rendering any of theforegoing can be transmitted via encoding signals. At activity 21600,any portion of a travel guide can be rendered, such as according to themachine instructions for rendering the content and/or controls of thatvisual travel guide. At activity 21700, a user of a visual travel guidecan provide commands requesting additional information, other portionsof the visual travel guide, and/or describing modifications to thevisual travel guide, etc. At activity 21800, revisions to, additionalaspects of, and/or information external to, the visual travel guide canbe rendered.

Note

Still other practical and useful embodiments will become readilyapparent to those skilled in this art from reading the above-reciteddetailed description and drawings of certain exemplary embodiments. Itshould be understood that numerous variations, modifications, andadditional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all suchvariations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as beingwithin the spirit and scope of this application.

Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field,background, summary, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of thisapplication, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via anexplicit definition, assertion, or argument, with respect to any claim,whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claimingpriority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise:

-   -   there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular        described or illustrated characteristic, function, activity, or        element, any particular sequence of activities, or any        particular interrelationship of elements;    -   any elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated;    -   any activity can be repeated, performed by multiple entities,        and/or performed in multiple jurisdictions; and    -   any activity or element can be specifically excluded, the        sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of        elements can vary.

Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearlystated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. When any range isdescribed herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that range includesall values therein and all subranges therein. For example, if a range of1 to 10 is described, that range includes all values therebetween, suchas for example, 1.1, 2.5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc., and includesall subranges therebetween, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to 8.14,1.93 to 9, etc.

Any information in any material (e.g., a United States patent, UnitedStates patent application, book, article, etc.) that has beenincorporated by reference herein, is only incorporated by reference tothe extent that no conflict exists between such information and theother statements and drawings set forth herein. In the event of suchconflict, including a conflict that would render invalid any claimherein or seeking priority hereto, then any such conflicting informationin such incorporated by reference material is specifically notincorporated by reference herein.

Accordingly, the descriptions and drawings are to be regarded asillustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

DEFINITIONS

When the following terms are used substantively herein, the accompanyingdefinitions apply. These terms and definitions are presented withoutprejudice, and, consistent with the application, the right to redefinethese terms during the prosecution of this application or anyapplication claiming priority hereto is reserved. For the purpose ofinterpreting a claim of any patent that claims priority hereto, eachdefinition (or redefined term if an original definition was amendedduring the prosecution of that patent), functions as a clear andunambiguous disavowal of the subject matter outside of that definition.

-   -   activity—an action, act, deed, function, step, and/or process        and/or a portion thereof.    -   activity—an action, act, step, and/or process or portion        thereof.    -   adapted to—suitable, fit, and/or capable of performing a        specified function.    -   advertisement—a notice, such as a paid announcement, designed to        attract public attention and/or patronage.    -   approach—v. to advance upon, come near, and/or come nearer        to; n. the act of drawing near; an identified roadway and/or        compass direction.    -   arrangement—a temporal and/or spatial ordering of things.    -   associated with—related to.    -   at least—not less than.    -   attach—to fasten, secure, couple, and/or join.    -   automatically—acting and/or operating in a manner essentially        independent of external human influence and/or control. For        example, an automatic light switch can turn on upon “seeing” a        person in its view, without the person manually operating the        light switch.    -   automobile—a passenger vehicle adapted to, during normal        operations, travel on ordinary roads.    -   based—being derived from.    -   can—is capable of, in at least some embodiments.    -   capture—to record information in a retrievable form.    -   cause—to bring about, provoke, precipitate, produce, elicit, be        the reason for, result in, and/or effect.    -   command—a signal that initiates an operation defined by an        instruction.    -   comprising—including but not limited to, what follows.    -   content—data and/or meta-data, such as a photograph, factual        information, annotation, tag, etc., regarding a destination,        approach direction, path, turn, origin, route, and/or vicinity        thereof, and/or a photograph, factual information, annotation,        etc., thereof.    -   corresponding—related, associated, accompanying, similar in        purpose and/or position, conforming in every respect, and/or        equivalent and/or agreeing in amount, quantity, magnitude,        quality, and/or degree.    -   create—to make, form, produce, generate, bring into being,        and/or cause to exist.    -   data structure—an organization of a collection of data that        allows the data to be manipulated effectively and/or a logical        relationship among data elements that is designed to support        specific data manipulation functions. A data structure can        comprise meta data to describe the properties of the data        structure. Examples of data structures can include: array,        dictionary, graph, hash, heap, linked list, matrix, object,        queue, ring, stack, tree, and/or vector.    -   description—a representation of one or more characteristics.    -   destination—a place, address, and/or entity to which a movement,        shipment, and/or voyage is ultimately directed.    -   device—an instrumentality adapted to a particular purpose.    -   driver—one who steers and controls an automobile while it is        traveling on a road.    -   each—every one of a group considered individually.    -   further—in addition.    -   guide—v. to direct, steer, and/or exert control and/or influence        over; n. a book, pamphlet, file, and/or collection, etc., giving        information, instructions, and/or advice.    -   haptic—involving the human sense of kinesthetic movement and/or        the human sense of touch. Among the many potential haptic        experiences are numerous sensations, body-positional differences        in sensations, and time-based changes in sensations that are        perceived at least partially in non-visual, non-audible, and        non-olfactory manners, including the experiences of tactile        touch (being touched), active touch, grasping, pressure,        friction, traction, slip, stretch, force, torque, impact,        puncture, vibration, motion, acceleration, jerk, pulse,        orientation, limb position, gravity, texture, gap, recess,        viscosity, pain, itch, moisture, temperature, thermal        conductivity, and thermal capacity.    -   host—a provider of a service and/or a server or other computer        system adapted to provide such service.    -   identification—evidence of identity, such as a moniker,        description, designation, and/or characteristics, and/or        something that uniquely and/or substantially uniquely identifies        a person and/or thing.    -   image—an at least two-dimensional representation of an entity        and/or phenomenon.    -   information—facts, terms, concepts, phrases, expressions,        commands, numbers, characters, and/or symbols, etc., that are        related to a subject. Sometimes used synonymously with data, and        sometimes used to describe organized, transformed, and/or        processed data. It is generally possible to automate certain        activities involving the management, organization, storage,        transformation, communication, and/or presentation of        information.    -   information device—any device on which resides a finite state        machine capable of implementing at least a portion of a method,        structure, and/or graphical user interface described herein. An        information device can comprise well-known communicatively        coupled components, such as one or more network interfaces, one        or more processors, one or more memories containing        instructions, one or more input/output (I/O) devices, and/or one        or more user interfaces (e.g., coupled to an I/O device) via        which information can be rendered to implement one or more        functions described herein. For example, an information device        can be any general purpose and/or special purpose computer, such        as a personal computer, video game system (e.g., PlayStation,        Nintendo Gameboy, X-Box, etc.), workstation, server,        minicomputer, mainframe, supercomputer, computer terminal,        laptop, wearable computer, and/or Personal Digital Assistant        (PDA), iPod, mobile terminal, Bluetooth device, communicator,        “smart” phone (such as a Treo-like device), messaging service        (e.g., Blackberry) receiver, pager, facsimile, cellular        telephone, a traditional telephone, telephonic device, a        programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and/or peripheral        integrated circuit elements, a digital signal processor, an ASIC        and/or other integrated circuit, a hardware electronic logic        circuit such as a discrete element circuit, and/or a        programmable logic device such as a PLD, PLA, FPGA, or PAL, or        the like, etc.    -   input/output (I/O) device—any sensory-oriented input and/or        output device, such as an audio, visual, haptic, olfactory,        and/or taste-oriented device, including, for example, a monitor,        display, projector, overhead display, keyboard, keypad, mouse,        trackball, joystick, gamepad, wheel, touchpad, touch panel,        pointing device, microphone, speaker, video camera, camera,        scanner, printer, haptic device, vibrator, tactile simulator,        and/or tactile pad, potentially including a port to which an I/O        device can be attached and/or connected.    -   intersection—a point and/or line defined by the meeting of two        or more items.    -   landmark—a prominent and/or conspicuous building, feature,        and/or object on land that serves as a guide, especially to        travelers on a road; and/or a distinguishing landscape feature        marking a site and/or location.    -   located—situated approximately in a particular spot and/or        position.    -   machine—a device and/or system adapted to perform at least one        task.    -   machine instructions—directions adapted to cause a machine, such        as an information device, to perform one or more particular        activities, operations, and/or functions. The directions, which        can sometimes form an entity called a “processor”, “kernel”,        “operating system”, “program”, “application”, “utility”,        “subroutine”, “script”, “macro”, “file”, “project”, “module”,        “library”, “class”, and/or “object”, etc., can be embodied as        machine code, source code, object code, compiled code, assembled        code, interpretable code, and/or executable code, etc., in        hardware, firmware, and/or software.    -   machine readable medium—one or more physical structures from        which a machine can obtain data and/or information. Examples        include one or more memories, memory devices, punch cards, bar        codes, etc.    -   map—a representation, usually on a plane surface, of a region of        the earth.    -   may—is allowed to, in at least some embodiments.    -   method—a process, procedure, and/or collection of related        activities for accomplishing something.    -   modify—to change, cause to change, edit, alter, replace, delete,        and/or correct.    -   network—a communicatively coupled plurality of nodes,        communication devices, and/or information devices. Via a        network, such devices can be linked, such as via various        wireline and/or wireless media, such as cables, telephone lines,        power lines, optical fibers, radio waves, and/or light beams,        etc., to share resources (such as printers and/or memory        devices), exchange files, and/or allow electronic communications        therebetween. A network can be and/or can utilize any of a wide        variety of sub-networks and/or protocols, such as a circuit        switched, public-switched, packet switched, connection-less,        wireless, virtual, radio, data, telephone, twisted pair, POTS,        non-POTS, DSL, cellular, telecommunications, video distribution,        cable, terrestrial, microwave, broadcast, satellite, broadband,        corporate, global, national, regional, wide area, backbone,        packet-switched TCP/IP, IEEE 802.03, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet,        Token Ring, local area, wide area, IP, public Internet,        intranet, private, ATM, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), Wi-Fi, BlueTooth,        Airport, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g,        X-10, electrical power, multi-domain, and/or multi-zone        sub-network and/or protocol, one or more Internet service        providers, and/or one or more information devices, such as a        switch, router, and/or gateway not directly connected to a local        area network, etc., and/or any equivalents thereof.    -   network interface—any device, system, and/or subsystem capable        of coupling an information device to a network. For example, a        network interface can be a telephone, cellular phone, cellular        modem, telephone data modem, fax modem, wireless transceiver,        ethernet card, cable modem, digital subscriber line interface,        bridge, hub, router, or other similar device.    -   origin—a place, address, and/or location from which a movement,        shipment, and/or voyage begins.    -   packet—a discrete instance of communication.    -   plurality—the state of being plural and/or more than one.    -   portion—a part, component, section, percentage, ratio, and/or        quantity that is less than a larger whole. Can be visually,        physically, and/or virtually distinguishable and/or        non-distinguishable.    -   predetermined—established in advance.    -   processor—a device and/or set of machine-readable instructions        for performing one or more predetermined tasks. A processor can        comprise any one or a combination of hardware, firmware, and/or        software. A processor can utilize mechanical, pneumatic,        hydraulic, electrical, magnetic, optical, informational,        chemical, and/or biological principles, signals, and/or inputs        to perform the task(s). In certain embodiments, a processor can        act upon information by manipulating, analyzing, modifying,        converting, transmitting the information for use by an        executable procedure and/or an information device, and/or        routing the information to an output device. A processor can        function as a central processing unit, local controller, remote        controller, parallel controller, and/or distributed controller,        etc. Unless stated otherwise, the processor can be a        general-purpose device, such as a microcontroller and/or a        microprocessor, such the Pentium IV series of microprocessor        manufactured by the Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. In        certain embodiments, the processor can be dedicated purpose        device, such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit        (ASIC) or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that has been        designed to implement in its hardware and/or firmware at least a        part of an embodiment disclosed herein.    -   promotional item—something devised to publicize and/or encourage        the sale and/or acceptance of a product, cause, institution,        etc., such as a coupon, business card, logo, trademark, notice,        announcement, press release, brochure, free sample, poster,        commercial, and/or advertisement, etc.    -   provide—to furnish, supply, give, convey, send, and/or make        available.    -   receive—to obtain, get, take, and/or acquire.    -   record—to gather, capture, and/or preserve information.    -   render—to display, annunciate, speak, print, and/or otherwise        make perceptible to a human, for example as data, commands,        text, graphics, audio, video, animation, and/or hyperlinks,        etc., such as via any visual, audio, and/or haptic means, such        as via a display, monitor, printer, electric paper, ocular        implant, cochlear implant, speaker, etc.    -   representation—an approximation, equivalent, mathematical        characterization, rendering, image, and/or likeness of        something.    -   reproduce—to copy, imitate, and/or represent.    -   request—(v.) to express a need and/or desire for; to inquire        and/or ask for. (n.) that which communicates an expression of        desire and/or that which is asked for.    -   road—a street, highway, and/or long, narrow stretch with a        smoothed and/or paved surface, made for traveling by motor        vehicle, carriage, etc., between two or more points.    -   route—a path along which an automobile and/or person typically        travels.    -   set—a related plurality of predetermined elements; and/or one or        more distinct items and/or entities having a specific common        property or properties.    -   signal—information, such as machine instructions for activities        and/or one or more letters, words, characters, symbols, signal        flags, visual displays, and/or special sounds, etc. having        prearranged meaning, encoded as automatically detectable        variations in a physical variable, such as a pneumatic,        hydraulic, acoustic, fluidic, mechanical, electrical, magnetic,        optical, chemical, and/or biological variable, such as power,        energy, pressure, flowrate, viscosity, density, torque, impact,        force, voltage, current, resistance, magnetomotive force,        magnetic field intensity, magnetic field flux, magnetic flux        density, reluctance, permeability, index of refraction, optical        wavelength, polarization, reflectance, transmittance, phase        shift, concentration, and/or temperature, etc. Depending on the        context, a signal and/or the information encoded therein can be        synchronous, asychronous, hard real-time, soft real-time,        non-real time, continuously generated, continuously varying,        analog, discretely generated, discretely varying, quantized,        digital, broadcast, multicast, unicast, transmitted, conveyed,        received, continuously measured, discretely measured, processed,        encoded, encrypted, multiplexed, modulated, spread, de-spread,        demodulated, detected, de-multiplexed, decrypted, and/or        decoded, etc.    -   specific—intended for, applying to, and/or acting on a        particular thing.    -   store—to place, hold, retain, enter, and/or copy into and/or        onto a machine-readable medium.    -   subscriber—a content provider and/or traveler.    -   substantially—to a considerable, large, and/or great, but not        necessarily whole and/or entire, extent and/or degree.    -   textual—words treated as data by a computer.    -   transmit—to provide, furnish, supply, send as a signal, and/or        to convey (e.g., force, energy, and/or information) from one        place and/or thing to another.    -   travel—v. to go and/or move from one place to another; n. the        act of traveling.    -   turn—to change the position of by traversing an arc.    -   unique—existing as the only one, having no equal, and/or        distinctive in some attribute.    -   user—a person, organization, process, device, program, protocol,        and/or system, such as a subscriber, customer, provider, server        administrator, motorist, and/or traveler, etc., that uses at        least a portion of a device, system, process, method, and/or        service described herein.    -   user interface—any device for rendering information to a user        and/or requesting information from the user. A user interface        includes at least one of textual, graphical, audio, video,        animation, and/or haptic elements. A textual element can be        provided, for example, by a printer, monitor, display,        projector, etc. A graphical element can be provided, for        example, via a monitor, display, projector, and/or visual        indication device, such as a light, flag, beacon, etc. An audio        element can be provided, for example, via a speaker, microphone,        and/or other sound generating and/or receiving device. A video        element and/or animation element can be provided, for example,        via a monitor, display, projector, and/or other visual device. A        haptic element can be provided, for example, via a very low        frequency speaker, vibrator, tactile stimulator, tactile pad,        simulator, keyboard, keypad, mouse, trackball, joystick,        gamepad, wheel, touchpad, touch panel, pointing device, and/or        other haptic device, etc. A user interface can include one or        more textual elements such as, for example, one or more letters,        number, symbols, etc. A user interface can include one or more        graphical elements such as, for example, an image, photograph,        drawing, icon, window, title bar, panel, sheet, tab, drawer,        matrix, table, form, calendar, outline view, frame, dialog box,        static text, text box, list, pick list, pop-up list, pull-down        list, menu, tool bar, dock, check box, radio button, hyperlink,        browser, button, control, palette, preview panel, color wheel,        dial, slider, scroll bar, cursor, status bar, stepper, and/or        progress indicator, etc. A textual and/or graphical element can        be used for selecting, programming, adjusting, changing,        specifying, etc. an appearance, background color, background        style, border style, border thickness, foreground color, font,        font style, font size, alignment, line spacing, indent, maximum        data length, validation, query, cursor type, pointer type,        autosizing, position, and/or dimension, etc. A user interface        can include one or more audio elements such as, for example, a        volume control, pitch control, speed control, voice selector,        and/or one or more elements for controlling audio play, speed,        pause, fast forward, reverse, etc. A user interface can include        one or more video elements such as, for example, elements        controlling video play, speed, pause, fast forward, reverse,        zoom-in, zoom-out, rotate, and/or tilt, etc. A user interface        can include one or more animation elements such as, for example,        elements controlling animation play, pause, fast forward,        reverse, zoom-in, zoom-out, rotate, tilt, color, intensity,        speed, frequency, appearance, etc. A user interface can include        one or more haptic elements such as, for example, elements        utilizing tactile stimulus, force, pressure, vibration, motion,        displacement, temperature, etc.    -   via—by way of and/or utilizing.    -   video—a collection of related images adapted to be visibly,        sequentially, and substantially coherently rendered via a        machine, such as a video player, a DVD player, and/or an        information device, etc.    -   view—a human perspective of a scene.    -   visual—visible.    -   wherein—in regard to which; and; and/or in addition to.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: for a predetermined route,automatically processing a first set of machine instructions to create avisual travel guide specific to the predetermined route, the visualtravel guide comprising a second set of machine instructions adapted tocause an information device to render, in a predetermined arrangement:an identification of a destination of the predetermined route; aplurality of photographs, each photograph corresponding to a unique roadintersection located approximately on the predetermined route, eachphotograph adapted to substantially reproduce a view of a driver of anautomobile approaching the road intersection as recorded via one or morephotographic information recording devices attached to the automobile; atextual description associated with at least one of the plurality ofphotographs; at least one of an identification of an origin of thepredetermined route and an identification of an approach to thedestination; and an advertisement associated with at least a portion ofthe predetermined route.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:automatically creating the first set of machine instructions based onuser-provided commands.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:automatically creating the second set of machine instructions.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: automatically creating the secondset of machine instructions based on user-provided commands.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: automatically receiving a requestfor the visual travel guide.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: automatically providing the visual travel guide, theprovided visual travel guide automatically customized to at least one ofan origin, current location, approach, route, and destination of atraveler associated with the request.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: automatically transmitting the visual travel guide via anetwork.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: automaticallymodifying the second set of machine instructions based on user-providedcommands.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: automaticallygenerating a third set of machine instructions based on user-providedcommands provided upon performance of said second set of machineinstructions.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein: the second set ofmachine instructions is adapted to cause the information device torender an identification of a turn located along the predeterminedroute.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein: the second set of machineinstructions is adapted to cause the information device to render avisual representation of a turn located along the predetermined route.12. The method of claim 1, wherein: the second set of machineinstructions is adapted to cause the information device to render anidentification of a landmark associated with at least a portion of thepredetermined route.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein: the second setof machine instructions is adapted to cause the information device torender a visual representation of a landmark associated with at least aportion of the predetermined route.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein:the second set of machine instructions is adapted to cause theinformation device to render a map associated with at least a portion ofthe predetermined route.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein: the secondset of machine instructions is adapted to cause the information deviceto render a map associated with the road intersection.
 16. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the second set of machine instructions is adapted tocause the information device to render a promotional item.
 17. Themethod of claim 1, wherein: the second set of machine instructions isadapted to cause the information device to render an advertisementassociated with at least a portion of the predetermined route.
 18. Themethod of claim 1, wherein: the second set of machine instructions isadapted to cause the information device to render an advertisementassociated with at least one of an origin, current location, approach,route, and destination of a traveler associated with the request.
 19. Anon-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a physical structurestoring first machine-implementable instructions for activitiescomprising: for a predetermined route, creating a visual travel guidespecific to the predetermined route, the visual travel guide comprisingsecond machine-implementable instructions adapted to cause aninformation device to render, in a predetermined arrangement: anidentification of a destination of the predetermined route; a pluralityof photographs, each photograph corresponding to a unique roadintersection located approximately on the predetermined route, eachphotograph adapted to substantially reproduce a view of a driver of anautomobile approaching the road intersection as recorded via one or morephotographic information recording devices attached to the automobile; atextual description associated with at least one of the plurality ofphotographs; at least one of an identification of an origin of thepredetermined route and an identification of an approach to thedestination; and an advertisement associated with at least a portion ofthe predetermined route.
 20. A method, comprising: for a predeterminedroute, automatically processing a first set of machine instructions tocreate a visual travel guide specific to the predetermined route, thevisual travel guide comprising a second set of machine instructionsadapted to cause an information device to render, in a predeterminedarrangement: an identification of a destination of the predeterminedroute; a plurality of videos, each video corresponding to a unique roadintersection located approximately on the predetermined route, eachvideo adapted to substantially reproduce a view of a driver of anautomobile approaching the road intersection as recorded via one or morevideo information recording devices attached to the automobile; atextual description associated with at least one of the plurality ofvideos; and at least one of an identification of an origin of thepredetermined route and an identification of an approach to thedestination.